Built as an Indiaman by Roth on the lines of a previous ship, Superbe, that had been sold to the Austrian East India Company, Sévère was purchased by the Crown in November 1778 and commissioned for the American Revolutionary War.

She took part in the Battle of Negapatam in 1782, under Captain Villeneuve-Cillart; during the battle, Cillart panicked and attempted to strike, but was prevented from doing so by officers Dieu and Kerlero de Rosbo.

Sévère ended up causing damage to HMS Sultan.

[1][Note 1] In July 1782, in the wake of the Battle of Negapatam, Suffren relieved Cillart from duty and sent him to France to be Court-martialled,[4] replacing him with Lieutenant Maurville de Langle.

[7] Sévère was later armed en flûte, and was wrecked on 26 January 1784 at the Cape of Good Hope.